SKELMERSDALE gained a hard-fought victory for their eighth away win of the season, incredibly one more than they have presently achieved 'at home' on Victoria Park.

On a bumpy pitch which was hardly conducive to good football, United opened brightly and Lee Thompson shot narrowly wide following a good through ball from Carl Osman.

And minutes later, Tony Morton fired over the bar as he ran onto a cross from Stuart Rudd.

But Robbie Holcroft was called upon to make a tremendous save when Griggs intercepted a risky pass from Steve Rimmer.

United took the lead in the 13th minute when a powerful cross from Rudd was diverted into the net by Thompson.

Nantwich were coming more into the game as the first-period wore on, with Skem guilty of making the extra pass when it wasn't really necessary.

Ian Price cleared from Melling when danger threatened and Gleghorn hit the bar with a free-kick which was headed clear by Dave Standley.

But as the first-half closed, Osman almost increased the lead from a Thompson cross, and early in the second-half Mike Cole should have done better when he shot tamely at the home keeper after being put through by Rudd.

However, play became scrappy, Nantwich were using the offside trap to perfection, and Holcroft saved well from Gleghorn before Buckle headed over from a corner.

Drew Hyland, signed from Burscough in midweek, marked his Skelmersdale debut in dramatic fashion when he was introduced as a 77th minute substitute.

A clever exchange of passes with Rudd enabled the latter to put Skem two up with a powerful drive from just inside the penalty area for his 34th goal of the season.

Immediately afterwards, Hyland produced a spectacular volley which flew inches wide, then the new signing finished up in the referee's notebook following an altercation with home keeper Heeps.

In the final minute, Standley cleared a header from Tainton off the line.